Twycross Zoo Twycross Zoo news 2013 #3

Not a bad idea as it reaches a big audience and is a sure way to attract more visitors, at least short term. These zoo series tend to get made by either the local regional T.V. companies or small Independant ones, but of course only a certain amount of this type of programming gets shown in any year. Nowadays the format is almost always exactly the same, following the keepers on their daily routines, with usually some vetinary work and anything else interesting that's going on during the filming period. For Twycross this might be around a 'crisis' storyline of their current financial and other problems, though they might not want it exposed that they are struggling - it never looks good.

Out of interest, UK animal collections I can think of that have featured in recent years in these T.V. series(ones focusing on a particular zoo that is) include;

London/Whipsnade.
Paignton
Bristol.
Chester.
Colchester
Longleat.
Howletts/Port Lympne(a children's version.)
Dartmoor Wildlife Park.
Manor House Tenby.


And in Ireland; Dublin?


There may be others I can't recall too.

Molly's Zoo, made by the B.B.C. and shown nationaly 1999/2000, five episodes in total, featuring the gorillas, orangs, chimps, bonobos and gibbons with their keepers, there was also video footage of Tara and Karishma being born in 1998. Molly Badham featured in an article in the millennium edition of the Radio Times, entitled "A day in the life of".
 
Molly's Zoo, made by the B.B.C. and shown nationaly 1999/2000, five episodes in total, featuring the gorillas, orangs, chimps, bonobos and gibbons with their keepers, there was also video footage of Tara and Karishma being born in 1998. Molly Badham featured in an article in the millennium edition of the Radio Times, entitled "A day in the life of".

I do remember this now- or at least the episode with the birth of the Elephant calves- so they aren't any strangers to the world of T.V. then.
 
I do remember this now- or at least the episode with the birth of the Elephant calves- so they aren't any strangers to the world of T.V. then.

Well they weren't in those days, also Molly made regular appearances on Blue Peter and Animal Magic and other shows. The only time I can recall this zoo appearing on national television in recent times is when they were on News at Ten last Autumn concerning that alleged elephant cruelty case, which came to nothing, although on second thoughts, what's the saying ,"every cloud has a silver lining"!:)
 
hmm i know twycross may be in trouble and things kinda makes me guilty a little about getting an extra 6 months free on our passes....

theres alot of small projects at the zoo but i think one of the things it really needs more than new projects is simple maintance.

one of the things i would love to see is more use of the unused and (dare i say) forgotten areas of the zoo

theres a whole section of enclosures behind the flamingos that appear to have vanished from the map in recent months, the far end of the elephant enclosure is a pre-made exhibit that is just missing a house and animals.

round the side of that area there is an entire row of X-monkey houses, there is wattle over the window that is in the longhouse path, then bushes planted infront of the path and windows of the other parts, im sure that they would not take alot of time to re-open with a path and refurbish for other animals.
theres the exhibits where you come out of the new lemur walk, the posts collapsed in the snow and they were simply demolished.

might be a silly question but have twycross ever had lottery funding for a project, because a decent project could be filmed and be a VERY big draw
 
Twycross could have a windfall from the contracting out of the catering for five years? There is some great discussion on here about Twycross they should be pleased and taking note.
 
Just read on the Twycross website that they've partnered with a an outside group for catering. Sounds good, what's the point of having such an amazing restaurant with sub standard food and service. They even took away the fanta frozen machine away a few months a go! They were yum!
 
Just read on the Twycross website that they've partnered with a an outside group for catering. Sounds good, what's the point of having such an amazing restaurant with sub standard food and service. They even took away the fanta frozen machine away a few months a go! They were yum!

The speed of the restaurant is a major gripe of mine. Hope this improves it.
 
Twycross could have a windfall from the contracting out of the catering for five years? There is some great discussion on here about Twycross they should be pleased and taking note.

Well that is some positive news, the zoo are planning five years ahead, personally, I have never had a complaint at the food or standard of service in the café, however, I did prefer the old café to the new one, but that's just me being nostalgic.
 
Well that is some positive news, the zoo are planning five years ahead, personally, I have never had a complaint at the food or standard of service in the café, however, I did prefer the old café to the new one, but that's just me being nostalgic.

I too don't see a problem with the food or service, maybe I've just been there at slow times.
 
In terms of quality, the food in Himalaya is a considerable step up from its predecessors (one of Himalaya's relatively few undoubted benefits!). There is a bit of problem with service speed sometimes, in my experience, but not the worst I've come across by any stretch.
 
Just some news from my visit yesterday

- monkeys in trees had opened. However monkeys went along tube but never climbed on the tree on the other side. I'm sure they will get used to it when they do it will be a great exhibit with monkeys climbing above you.

- the howler monkeys are sharing an enclosure with some a few mara's. There is also some construction work going on opposite the howler monkeys. Does anyone know what this might be.

- I spoke to a keeper and she said that they thought the female bush dog may be pregnant.

- I was very impressed with the new meerkat and prarie dog enclosures however I thought the marten enclosure was perhaps a bit small?

- Does anyone know what happens to the tapirs at twz as they appear to only have the baby left?

- Are the ground cuscus in quarantine or are they not planning to show them to the public?

- I was also a bit concerned about the Amur leopard as it was constantly pacing not sure if it was the female or male.

- Does anyone know what happens to the one of the Darwin's rhea as their appears to only be one?

- Finally does anyone know what the long wire fence is for across the grassy area down by the penguins?

That's about it if anyone could answer my questions that would be great
 
The cuscus is in the Amur leopard enclosure (not literally) and so can't be viewed by the public. There is no plan, i believe, to put these on show. The two Brazilian tapirs were put down, so was the Malayan tapir. I'm aware that one of the two rheas had a sore leg...I thought the new 'monkeys in the trees' was for tamarins not Howlers.
 
- I spoke to a keeper and she said that they thought the female bush dog may be pregnant.

We can but hope; it would be good if we had more than one breeding group in the UK.
 
Amur Leopards - the last few times I've visited there has been a twycross person (possibly a researcher) monitoring the leopards as there are worries about Kristin's behaviour. Eg 'stargazing' behaviour. They think it is something she developed before her arrival. Afraid that's all I know.

Rheas - there has been a notice up saying that one is under get care. There's usually one wandering around and another laid very flat in the grass.
 
It says on their Facebook page they are going to make an important announcement at 9am tomorrow. Does anyone know what it might be
 
I would think Elephant Keepers (and by golly they really do not need that kind of publicity right now).

Hence they would try to let any info out as quietly as possible? Not make a big announcement, never mind trail it beforehand?
 
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